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U.S. Soccer released its ballot for the National Soccer Hall of Fame on Tuesday, with 31 former players -- and 12 first-time nominees -- making the final ballot for the Class of 2012.

Among the first-timers are former U.S. goalkeeper Tony Meola and captain Claudio Reyna.

For the seventh consecutive year, I'm one of the voters for the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and it's a responsibility I take very seriously. I've made each of my previous six ballots and the rationales behind them public, so there's no need to change now.

There are 12 newcomers on the 31-player ballot for 2012.

Changing coaches often means changing playing styles, and the decision to hire Oscar Pareja as head coach means the Colorado Rapids of 2012 may look quite different from the teams of 2010-11.

Giving Pareja the reins of his first MLS team is going to create a roster shakeup. The Colombian, a veteran of MLS campaigns from 1998 through 2005, has already talked about the need to find a Carlos Valderrama-type playmaker for the Rapids.

Abel Xavier foi eleito, por 23 dos 63 leitores que participaram na última votação, como o jogador com o penteado mais bizarro da história do futebol. Formado no Sporting e Estrela da Amadora, Abel Xavier, hoje Faisal após a conversão ao Islamismo, conheceu um dos pontos mais altos da sua carreira ainda muito jovem quando se sagrou campeão do mundo de sub-20 (ainda com um penteado "normal), um título que lhe valeu a transferência para o Benfica, onde se manteve por três épocas.

Journalist and South Florida's premier soccer supporters club the Ultras met up with a couple of legends this past Wednesday as part of a preview for the clash between Colombia vs Mexico at Sun Life Stadium in Miami February 29, 2012.
The Ultras will be attending this game and have been assigned to section 129 at SunLife Stadium.

One time Miami Fusion player Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama and former L.A. Galaxy player Jorge Campos visit Sun Life Stadium on Wed., December 14 to promote Mexico vs. Colombia match
Here is the press release:
Two of the game's most popular legends joined by Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders for a memorable afternoon on the pitch, including a jersey presentation to the players
MIAMI (Monday, Dec.

El Equipo Ideal de América es elegido desde 1986 por el Diario "El País", periódico de Uruguay. Solamente los futbolistas que juegan en clubes americanos son de elección.
Hablando de jugadores Mexicanos, solo 2 se han elegido en el tiempo que ha existido este nombramiento, Luis Hernández y Memo Ochoa.

None of the MLS post-season awards are as fluid as the league's Most Valuable Player race.

Brek Shea may be the flavor of the moment, and rightly so. But if the young attacker "hits the wall," as they say, he could slide like a puppy on a slick tile floor.

Mauro Rosales (the biggest bargain in MLS – scroll to the bottom once you link to the piece) is toting the note for Seattle's attack as his Seattle nip annoyingly at the Galaxy heals in the West.

If it isn't former Colombian futbolista, Carlos Valderrama and his crazy hair! / via Daylife

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I wasn't always anti-All-Star Game.
I remember the first one, and how exciting it was. I seem to remember the first half being much better than the second half, but it was a large crowd at Giants Stadium and I thought it was awesome seeing all the league's stars come together for a game. And you had big stars then like Marco Etcheverry, Carlos Valderrama and Jorge Campos as well as guys like Eddie Pope and seeing all of them play on a team was cool.

Although there have been many wide open games in the previous 15 MLS All-Star gatherings, Colorado Rapids players have rarely stolen the spotlight.

With Omar Cummings picked at the lone representative for this year's showdown against Manchester United at the New York Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.

Porteros, Héroes o Villanos
En las rondas de definición los porteros juegan un rol fundamental para sus equipos

Buenos Aires, Argentina, 14 de julio 2011.– Oscar Córdoba, portero de la gran generación de futbolistas colombianos de los años 90, que incluía a figuras de la talla de Carlos Valderrama, Faustino Asprilla y Adolfo "El Tren" Valencia, se dio cita en el all in Media Center de adidas para hablar del importante rol que juegan los porteros en las rondas de definición y para dar su opinión sobre los favoritos en las siguientes rondas.

The starting left center back for the Rapids All-Time Team is Ritchie Kotschau.
How Acquired: Traded Adin Brown, Scott Vermillion, and our 2002 first round pick to Tampa Bay for Carlos Valderrama, Scott Garlick, and Richie Kotschau.
Years In Colorado: Mid 2001 through 2005
How Departed: Traded to Columbus for Cornell Glen.

When Erik Friberg arrived to play for the Seattle Sounders there was internet babble about him being a CAM or Classic #10, and while he hasn't been the next Carlos Valderrama, what he has shown is the ability to push the through ball forward into the attacking third fairly effectively from any part of the pitch, as he's played on the left, right and centrally.

The MLS and Red Bull New York announced today that individual tickets to the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game on July 27 at Red Bull Arena featuring the MLS All-Stars against Manchester United are sold out to the general public.

The match will be telecast live on ESPN2, Galavision, and TSN at 6:30 p.

"I think they're still around, but they're not given a chance. Tactics have changed to 4-4-2 now and it's all about running around and launching into tackles. Even when you've got someone who's a good soccer player, can slow things down, scores goals and can prove decisive, if he doesn't scrap for every ball and slide into tackles then he gets dropped.

By Chris Wright

Pies says:

"Basically Gary, you just have to find yourself £30k and an overly hairy donor - I found young Andy here on the internet. They just ripped the follicles right out of his Lord of the Rings beard and sewed it onto my scalp, I look like Carlos Valderrama under this hat.

Yesterday the official ballot for the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2011 was announced, and United States soccer fans will surely be pleased with the candidates. The pool of possible Hall of Famers is full of talented players who plied their trade both domestically in Major League Soccer as well as those pioneers that paved the way for fellow Americans overseas.

SEATTLE, WA Finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2011 were announced Thursday by U.S. Soccer. Voting has already begun and continues through March 11. The results will be announced in a few months. Here are the voting rules for the player category as detailed in the USSF press release: The [.

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Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope and Jason Kreis highlight a strong group of first-timers among the nominees on the 2011 U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame ballot, which was released Thursday afternoon.

Jones, the United States' all-time leader in caps with 164, played in three World Cups and was one of the most recognizable and distinguished players of his era.

Diego Maradona and Carlos Valderrama stole the show during an indoor game between former stars from Argentina and Colombia. Maradona was good for a goal and two assists. Valderrama, still holding his great head of hair, provided the assist for the great bicycle kick of Aristazabal and scored as well.

Off The Ball never rests in its mission to scratch around the underbelly of professional football to find the most bizarre, humorous and inexplicable stories. This week, Jermaine Pennant forgets he owns a Porsche, Wayne Bridge makes the worst debut in history, Mario Balotelli says Mario Balotelli is the best in the world and Diego Maradona takes on Carlos Valderrama at five-a-side.

Veterans provide a feast of footy Diego Maradona and Carlos Valderrama were both on the scoresheet as they led masters 5-a-side teams representing their respective nations to a 5-5 draw. Maradona scored a nice goal as he cut inside and drilled the ball home with the legendary left-foot. But Valderrama wasn't going to be outdone [.